A farming programme aimed at revitalising coconut, cocoa and coffee growing in Samoa is being launched this Friday.

The Samoa cabinet approved a stimulus package last week.

The chief executive of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Asuao Kirifi Pouono, says many farms are old and have limited productivity, so the plan is to improve profitability and sustainability.

"The aim is to assist farmers to replant those crops because of the crisis we are faced with. I'm talking about a global economic crisis. The farmers are not planting. So we would like to stimulate them to go back to the land and start planting those basic crops."

Asuao Kirifi Pouono says 500 farmers are expected to register and to set aside around half a hectare of land each for the replanting scheme.